EuroLeague, FIBA Unlikely To Reach Scheduling Agreement

October 12, 2017

Two days from the start of the '17-18 EuroLeague season, "a scheduling agreement does not appear imminent," according to Faustino Sáez of EL PAÍS. Since '12, when FIBA established new windows for the qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup -- which will take place this season -- the EuroLeague and FIBA have not reached an agreement, "and through at least November, the ball will be in the players' court." EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu said, "From here to November, it is a closed topic. We will not stop trying to fix something that to us is very bad for basketball. We will make the proposals we need to make to correct this mess, but it does not depend on us." Barcelona forward Víctor Claver said, "It's a controversial topic. Both the EuroLeague and FIBA have to come to an agreement. The players should not have to decide. We want to play with both our club team and our national team. We don't like being in this situation. I don't believe that it is best to have games without the best players. An agreement between everyone would be good" (EL PAÍS, 10/10).